Apparatus for both humidification and air cleaning

ABSTRACT

Provided is a humidification and air cleaning apparatus. The humidification and air cleaning apparatus includes: a water tank storing water; a watering housing disposed in the water tank and suctioning water stored in the water tank to spray suctioned water to the outside; a watering motor providing a torque to the watering housing; a pump groove protruding inside the watering housing, suctioning water of the water tank into the watering housing when rotating, and pumping the suctioned water to an upper side of the watering housing; and a nozzle disposed in the watering housing and spraying the upwardly pumped water to the outside of the watering housing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This U.S. non-provisional patent application claims priority under 35U.S.C. §119 of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/248,463, filed onOct. 30, 2015, Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0156254, filed onNov. 7, 2015, Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-156256, filed onNov. 7, 2015, Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0185854, filed onDec. 24, 2015, Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0037235, filed onMar. 28, 2016, U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/355,118, filed onJun. 27, 2016, Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0083053, filed onJun. 30, 2016, and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0129311, filedon Oct. 6, 2016, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention disclosed herein relates to an apparatus for bothhumidification and air cleaning.

Air conditioning apparatuses include air conditioners that control thetemperature of air, air cleaners that remove foreign substances from airto maintain air cleanliness, humidifiers that increase humidity in theair, and dehumidifiers that reduce humidity in the air.

Typical humidifiers are classified into a vibration type which atomizeswater on a vibrating plate and discharges it into air and a naturalevaporation type that evaporates water in a humidification filter.

The natural evaporation type of humidifier is classified into a disctype of humidifier which rotates a disc using a driving force and allowswater to naturally evaporate from the surface of the disc in the air anda humidification filter type of humidifier which allows water tonaturally evaporate from a wet humidification medium by flowing air.

In a typical humidifier, a portion of flowing air during thehumidification process is filtered by a filter.

However, since a typical humidifier is used only in a low humidityseason and an air cleaner has no humidification function, a user needsto purchase both products.

Also, since a typical humidifier has an air cleaning function as anadditional function in addition to a humidification function as a mainfunction, the air cleaning function is weak.

Furthermore, there is a limitation in that a typical humidifier or aircleaner cannot separately operate the humidification or air cleaningfunction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a humidification and air cleaningapparatus which can separately operate a humidification function and anair cleaning function.

The present invention also provides a humidification and air cleaningapparatus which allows a user to check water drops formed on ahumidification flow passage with his/her eyes and to intuitively knowthe humidification state.

The present invention also provides a humidification and air cleaningapparatus which can effectively pump and spray water of a water tank byrotating a watering housing.

The present invention also provides a humidification and air cleaningapparatus which can pump and spray water of a water tank by operating apump without rotating a watering housing.

The present invention also provides a humidification and air cleaningapparatus which can minimize vibration when a watering housing rotates.

The present invention also provides a humidification and air cleaningapparatus which includes a pump groove having a shape, a total surfacearea, a vertical length, an inclination direction, and an inclinationdegree which enable effective pumping.

The objectives of the present invention are not limited to theabove-mentioned objectives, and other objectives that are not mentionedwill be clearly understood by persons skilled in the art from thefollowing description.

Embodiments of the present invention provide humidification and aircleaning apparatuses including: a water tank storing water; a wateringhousing disposed in the water tank and suctioning water stored in thewater tank to spray suctioned water to the outside; a watering motorproviding a torque to the watering housing; a pump groove protrudinginside the watering housing, suctioning water of the water tank into thewatering housing when rotating, and pumping the suctioned water to anupper side of the watering housing; and a nozzle disposed in thewatering housing and spraying the upwardly pumped water to the outsideof the watering housing.

In some embodiments, the humidification and air cleaning apparatus mayfurther include a power transmission shaft that provides a torque of thewatering motor to the watering housing, wherein the power transmissionshaft is disposed inside the watering housing.

In some embodiments, the pump groove may longitudinally extend in upwardand downward directions.

In some embodiments, the pump groove may be formed in a form of dottedline or dot.

In some embodiments, the pump groove may be disposed in plurality, andmay be radially disposed with respect to a watering motor shaft of thewatering motor.

In some embodiments, the pump groove may be located lower than thenozzle.

In some embodiments, the watering housing may have a lower end thereofforming a watering inlet that is spaced from an inner undersurface ofthe water tank by a certain gap, and water of the water tank may besuctioned through the watering inlet.

In some embodiments, the pump groove formed in the watering housing mayhave a total surface area ranging from about 77% to about 129.5% withrespect to an area of the watering inlet.

In some embodiments, the pump groove may longitudinally extend in avertical direction, and may have a vertical length ranging from about30% to about 100% of a height of the watering housing.

In some embodiments, the watering housing may have a housing spaceformed therein, and an area of the watering inlet may range from about19.5% to about 32.7% with respect to a horizontal maximum area of thehousing space.

In some embodiments, the pump groove may be formed to incline at anangle of at least three degrees or more with respect to a watering motorshaft of the watering motor.

In some embodiments, the pump groove may incline toward the outside ofthe water tank.

In some embodiments, when the watering housing rotates at a speed equalto or larger than a first rotation speed, pumped water may be sprayedfrom the nozzle.

In some embodiments, the nozzle may include: a first nozzle sprayingwater when the watering housing rotates at a speed equal to or largerthan a first rotation speed; and a second nozzle spraying water when thewatering housing rotates at a speed equal to or larger than a secondrotation speed faster than a first rotation speed, and the second nozzlemay be located higher than the first nozzle.

In some embodiments, the watering housing may include: a first wateringhousing spaced from a undersurface of an inner side of the water tank bya suction gap and having upper and a lower sides thereof opened,respectively; a second watering housing having upper and lower sidesopened, assembled with an upper end of the first watering housing, andcommunicating with the inside of the first watering housing; a wateringhousing cover coupled with an upper end of the second watering housingand covering an upper surface of the second watering housing; a powertransmission unit disposed in at least one of the first wateringhousing, the second watering housing and the watering housing cover andreceiving a torque from the watering motor; and a nozzle disposed in atleast one of the first watering housing, the second watering housing andwatering housing cover, and spraying pumped water and discharging pumpedwater to the outside, and the pump groove may be disposed in at leastone of the first watering housing and the second watering housing.

In some embodiments, the pump groove may be disposed in the firstwatering housing, and the nozzle may be located higher than the pumpgroove.

In some embodiments, the humidification and air cleaning apparatus mayfurther include a power transmission shaft coupled to the powertransmission unit, wherein the power transmission shaft is disposedinside the watering housing, and the watering motor provides a torque tothe power transmission shaft.

In some embodiments, the power transmission shaft may have an upper endthereof coupled to the watering housing cover, and the watering housingcover may further include a shaft fixing part to which the powertransmission shaft is fixed.

In some embodiments, the humidification and air cleaning apparatus mayfurther include a water curtain inhibiting rib disposed inside thesecond watering housing and interfering with the pumped water to inhibita flow of water.

In some embodiments, the water curtain inhibiting rib may longitudinallyextend in upward and downward directions.

In some embodiments, the water curtain inhibiting rib may be connectedto the power transmission unit.

In some embodiments, the nozzle may include: a first nozzle sprayingwater when the watering housing rotates at a speed equal to or largerthan a first rotation speed; and a second nozzle spraying water when thewatering housing rotates at a speed equal to or larger than a secondrotation speed faster than a first rotation speed, and at least one ofthe first nozzle and the second nozzle may be disposed in the secondwatering housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the present invention, and are incorporated in andconstitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrateexemplary embodiments of the present invention and, together with thedescription, serve to explain principles of the present invention. Inthe drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a humidification and aircleaning apparatus according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded front view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded cross-sectional view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an air flow of thehumidification and air cleaning apparatus according to the firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the air wash module shownin FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a magnified view of a portion G shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating an installation state of thewatering housing shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a front view of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line M-M of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the wateringhousing shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of FIG. 12 viewed from bottom;

FIG. 14 is a front view of FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line N-N of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a magnified view illustrating a watering groove shown in FIG.15; and

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a watering unit accordingto a second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Advantages and features of the present invention, and implementationmethods thereof will be clarified through following embodimentsdescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings. The presentinvention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not beconstrued as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, theseembodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough andcomplete, and will fully convey the scope of the present invention tothose skilled in the art. Further, the present invention is only definedby scopes of claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elementsthroughout.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a humidification and aircleaning apparatus according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 isan exploded front view of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is an exploded cross-sectionalview of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an air flow ofthe humidification and air cleaning apparatus according to the firstembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional viewillustrating the air wash module shown in FIG. 4.

A humidification and air cleaning apparatus according to an embodimentof the present invention may include an air clean module 100 and an airwash module 200 disposed over the air clean module 100.

The air clean module 100 may take in and filter external air, and mayprovide filtered air to the air wash module 200. The air wash module 200may be supplied with filtered air, may perform humidification to providemoisture, and may discharge humidified air to the outside.

The air wash module 200 may include a water tank 300 for storing water.The water tank 300 may be separable from the air clean module 100 whenthe air wash module 200 is separated. The air wash module 200 may bedisposed over the air clean module 100.

A user can separate the air wash module 200 from the air clean module100, and can clean the air wash module 200 that is separated. A user mayalso clean the inside of the air clean module 100 from which the airwash module 200 is separated. When the air wash module 200 is separated,the upper surface of the air clean module 100 may be opened to a user.

The air clean module 100 may include a filter assembly 10 describedlater, and may be cleaned after the filter assembly 10 is separated froma base body 110.

A user may supply water into the air wash module 200. The air washmodule 200 may have a water supply flow passage 109 formed therein tosupply water from the outside to the water tank 300.

The water supply flow passage 109 may be configured to be separated froma discharge flow passage 107 from which air is discharged. The watersupply flow passage 109 may be configured to supply water into the watertank 300 at any moment. For example, even when the air wash module 200is operating, water can be supplied through the water supply flowpassage. For example, even when the air wash module 200 is coupled tothe air clean module 100, water can be supplied through the water supplyflow passage 109. For example, even when the air wash module 200 isdecoupled from the air clean module 100, water can be supplied throughthe water supply flow passage 109.

The air clean module 100 and the air wash module 200 may be connected toeach other through a connection flow passage 103. Since the air washmodule 200 is separable, the connection flow passage 103 may bedistributedly disposed at the air clean module 100 and the air washmodule 200. Only when the air wash module 200 is placed over the airclean module 100, the flow passage of the air wash module 200 and theflow passage of the air clean module 100 may communicate with each otherthrough the connection flow passage 103.

The connection flow passage formed in the air clean module 100 isdefined as a clean connection flow passage 104, and the connection flowpassage formed in the air wash module 200 is defined as a humidificationconnection flow passage 105.

The flow of air passing through the air clean module 100 and the airwash module 200 will be described in more detail later.

Hereinafter, the air clean module 100 and the air wash module 200 willbe described in more detail.

The air clean module 100 may include a base body 110, a filter assembly10 that is disposed in the base body 110 and filters air, and an airblowing unit 20 that blows air.

The air wash module 200 may include a water tank 300, a watering unit400, a humidification medium 50, a visual body 210, and a top coverassembly 230. The water tank 300 may store water for humidification, andmay be detachably disposed over the air clean module 100. The wateringunit 400 may be disposed in the water tank 300, and may spray water inthe water tank 300. The humidification medium 50 may be wetted withwater sprayed from the watering unit 400, and may provide moisture toflowing air. The visual body 210 may be coupled to the water tank 300,and may be formed of a transparent material. The top cover assembly 230may be detachably disposed over the visual body 210, and may include adischarge flow passage 107 through which air is discharged and a watersupply flow passage 109 through which water is supplied.

The air clean module 100 may include an intake flow passage 101, afiltering flow passage 102, an air blowing flow passage 108, and a cleanconnection flow passage 104 disposed therein. Air entered through theintake flow passage 101 may flow to the clean connection flow passage104 via the filtering flow passage 102 and the air blowing flow passage108.

The air wash module 200 may include a humidification connection flowpassage 105, a humidification flow passage 106, a discharge flow passage107, and a water supply flow passage 109 disposed therein.

When the air wash module 200 is placed over the air clean module 100,the clean connection flow passage 104 of the air clean module 100 andthe humidification connection flow passage 105 of the air wash module200 may be connected to each other.

Filtered air supplied through the humidification connection flow passage105 of the air wash module 200 may be discharged into the indoor via thehumidification flow passage 106 and the discharge flow passage 107. Thewater supply flow passage 109 may be manufactured into a structure inwhich air is not discharged and only water is supplied whilecommunicating with the humidification flow passage 106.

First, each configuration of the air clean module 100 will be described.

The base body 110 may include an upper body 120 and a lower body 130.The upper body 120 may be disposed on the lower body 130, and the upperbody 120 and the lower body 130 may be assembled.

Air may flow into the base body 110.

The intake flow passage 101, the filtering flow passage 102, and the airblowing flow passage 108 may be disposed in the lower body 130, andstructures that define the intake flow passage 101, the filtering flowpassage 102, and the air blowing flow passage may be disposed in thelower body 130.

A portion of the connection flow passage 103 may be disposed in theupper body 120, and structures for guiding filtered air to the air washmodule 200 and structures for supporting the air wash module 200 may bedisposed in the upper body 120.

The base body 110 may include the lower body 130 defining the exteriorthereof and having an inlet hole 110 formed in the undersurface thereof,and the upper body 120 defining the exterior thereof and coupled to theupper side of the lower body 130.

The filter assembly 10 may be detachably assembled in the base body 110.

The filter assembly 10 may provide the filtering flow passage 102, andmay filter external air. The filter assembly 10 may have a structurethat is detachable from the base body 110 in a horizontal direction. Thefilter assembly 10 may be disposed so as to cross the flowing directionof air that flows upstream in a vertical direction. The filter assembly10 may slide in a horizontal direction, and may filter air that flowsupward in a vertical direction. The filter assembly 10 may be disposedin a horizontal direction, and may form the filtering flow passage 102in a vertical direction.

The filter assembly 10 may slide in a horizontal direction with respectto the base body 110.

The filter assembly 10 may include a filter housing 11 disposed in thelower body 130 and forming the filtering flow passage 102, and a filter14 separably coupled to the filter housing 11 and filtering air passingthe filtering flow passage 102.

The filter housing 12 may communicate with the intake flow passage 101at the lower side thereof, and may communicate with the air blowing flowpassage 108 at the upper side thereof. Air entered through the intakeflow passage 101 may flow to the air blowing flow passage 108 via thefiltering flow passage 102.

The filter housing 12 may be opened at one side thereof in a directioncrossing the filtering flow passage 102. The filter 14 may detachablycoupled through the opened surface of the filter housing 12. The openedsurface of the filter housing 12 may be formed in a lateral direction.The opened surface of the filter housing 12 may be disposed on the outersurface of the lower body 130. Accordingly, the filter 14 may beinserted through the side surface of the lower body 130, and may belocated inside the filter housing 12. The filter 14 may be disposed tocross the filtering flow passage 102, and may filter air passing thefiltering flow passage 102.

The filter 14 may be an electric duct collecting filter that collectsforeign substances in the air by electrifying the filter using appliedpower. The filter 14 may be formed of a material that collects foreignsubstances in the air through a filter medium. The filter 14 may bedisposed in various structures. The scope of the inventive invention isnot limited to the filtering method or the filter medium of the filter14.

The filtering flow passage 102 may be disposed in the same direction asthe main flowing direction of the humidification and air cleaningapparatus. In this embodiment, the filtering flow passage 102 may bedisposed in a vertical direction, and may allow air to flow in theopposite direction to gravity. That is, the main flowing direction ofthe humidification and air cleaning apparatus may be formed so as todirect from bottom to top.

The air blowing unit 20 may be disposed over the filter housing 12.

The upper side surface of the filter housing 12 may be opened, and airpassing the filtering flow passage 102 may flow to the air blowing unit20.

The air blowing unit 20 may generate flowing of air. The air blowingunit 20 may be disposed inside the base body 110, and may allow air toflow from the lower side to the upper side.

The air blowing unit 20 may include a blower housing 150, a blower motor22, and a blower fan 24. In this embodiment, the blower motor 22 may bedisposed at an upper side, and the blower fan 24 may be disposed at alower side. The motor shaft of the blower motor 22 may direct to bottom,and may be coupled to the blower fan 24.

The blower housing 150 may be disposed inside the base body 110. Theblower housing 150 may provide a flow passage of flowing air. The blowermotor 22 and the blower fan 24 may be disposed in the blower housing150.

The blower housing 150 may be disposed over the filter assembly 10, andmay be disposed under the upper body 120.

The blower housing 150 may form the air blowing flow passage 108therein. The blower fan 24 may be disposed in the air blowing flowpassage 108. The air blowing flow passage 108 may connect the filteringflow passage 102 and the clean connection flow passage 104.

The blower fan 24 may be a centrifugal fan, and may admit air from thelower side thereof and discharge air to the outside in a radialdirection. The blower fan 24 may discharge air to the upper side and theoutside in a radial direction. The outer end of the blower fan 24 may bedisposed to direct to the upper side in a radial direction.

The blower motor 22 may be disposed over the blower fan 24 to minimizecontact with flowing air. The blower motor 22 may be installed so as tobe covered by the blower fan 24. The blower motor 22 may not be locatedon the airflow passage by the blower fan 24, and may not generate aresistance against air flowing by the blower fan 24.

The upper body 120 may include an upper outer body 128 forming theexterior of the base body and coupled to the lower body 130, an upperinner body 140 disposed inside the upper outer body 128, having thewater tank 300 inserted therein, and providing the connection flowpassage 103, and an air guide 170 coupling the upper inner body 140 andthe upper outer body 128 and guiding air to the water tank 300.

Since the upper body 120 is disposed to separate the connection flowpassage and the water tank insertion space, water of the water tank 300flowing into the connection flow passage can be minimized. Particularly,since the connection flow passage is divided by the upper inner body 140and disposed outside a space in which water is stored, water can beinhibited from flowing into the connection flow passage.

The upper inner body 140 may be formed to be opened at the upper sidethereof, and may receive the water tank 300. The upper inner body 140may form a portion of the clean connection flow passage 104 into whichfiltered air flows.

The upper inner body 140 may have an upper inlet 121 formed therein andcorresponding to an air wash inlet 31. The upper inlet 121 may not be anessential component. It may be sufficient if the upper body 120 has ashape that exposes the air wash inlet 31 to the connection flow passage103.

The air guide 170 may guide air supplied through the clean connectionflow passage 104 to the upper inlet 121. The air guide 170 may collectair rising along the outside of the base body 110 toward the inside. Theair guide 170 may change the flowing direction of air flowing from thelower side to the upper side. However, the air guide 170 may minimizethe flow resistance of air by minimizing the change angle of the flowdirection of air.

The air guide 170 may cover the outside of the upper inner body 140 360degrees of a circumference of the upper inner body 140. The air guide170 may guide air to the water tank 300 in all directions of 360 degreesof a circumference of the water tank 300. The air guide 170 may inwardlycollect air guided along the outside of the lower body 130, and maysupply the collected air to the water tank 300. Through this structure,the flow rate of air supplied to the water tank 300 can be sufficientlysecured.

Accordingly, the air guide 170 may include a guide part 172 formed inthe flowing direction of air, and a change part 174 that is connected tothe guide part 172 and changes the flow direction of guided air.

The air guide 170 may form the connection flow passage 103.

The guide part 172 may be formed in the substantially same direction asthe filtering flow passage 102, and in this embodiment, may be formed ina vertical direction. The change part 174 may be formed in a directioncrossing the filtering flow passage 102, and in this embodiment, may beformed in a substantially horizontal direction.

The change part 174 may be disposed at an upper side of the air guide170. The change part 174 may be connected to the guide part 172 througha curved surface.

Although the change part 174 is formed in a horizontal direction, airpassing the connection flow passage 103 may upwardly flow in asubstantially oblique direction. The flow resistance of air can bereduced by allowing the change angle of the connection flow passage 103and the filtering flow passage 102 to be similar to the straightlytraveling direction.

The lower end of the guide part 172 may be fixed to the upper outer body128. The upper end of the change part 174 may be fixed to the upperinner body 140.

A portion of the clean connection flow passage 104 may be formed outsidethe upper inner body 140. The air guide 170 may form a portion of theclean connection flow passage 104. Air passing the clean connection flowpassage 104 may flow into the water tank 300 through the upper inlet 121and the air wash inlet 31.

The upper inner body 140 may have a basket shape on the whole. The upperinner body 140 may have a circular shape in horizontal section, and theclean connection flow passage 104 may be formed in all directions of 360degrees of a circumference of the upper inner body 140.

The air guide 170 may be a component for guiding filtered air to theclean connection flow passage 104, and may be omitted in accordance withembodiments. The air guide 170 may combine the upper inner body 140 orthe upper outer body 128.

The air guide 170 may be formed to cover the upper inner body 140.Particularly, the air guide 170 may be formed to cover the upper inlet121, and may guide filtered air to the upper inlet 121. When viewed fromtop, the air guide 170 may have a donut shape.

In this embodiment, the upper end of the air guide 170 may adhereclosely to the upper end of the upper inner body 140.

When viewed from top, the upper side surface of the air guide 170 maycoincide with the upper side surface of the upper inner body 140. Inthis embodiment, an upper inner body ring 126 may be disposed on theupper end of the upper inner body 140 to be coupled to or adhere closelyto the air guide 170.

An inner body extension part 148 may be disposed to connect the upperinner body 140 and the upper inner body ring 126. The inner bodyextension part 148 may be disposed in plurality. An upper inlet 121 maybe formed between the inner body extension part 148 and the upper innerbody ring 126.

The inner body extension part 148 may correspond to a water tank bodyextension part 380. When the water tank 300 is placed, the water tankbody extension part 380 may be located inside the inner body extensionpart 148. The inner body extension part 148 and the water tank bodyextension part 380 may overlap each other inside and outside.

The upper end of the air guide 170 may adhere closely to or be coupledto the upper inner body ring 126. The lower end of the air guide 170 mayadhere closely to or be coupled to the upper outer body 128.

Accordingly, air flowing through the clean connection flow passage 104between the upper inner body 140 and the upper outer body 128 may beguided to the upper inlet 121.

The diameter of the upper inner body ring 126 and the diameter of theupper end of the air guide 170 may be the same as or similar to eachother. The air guide 170 and the upper inner body ring may adhereclosely to each other to prevent leakage of filtered air. The upperinner body ring 126 may be disposed inside the air guide 170.

A grip 129 may be formed on the upper outer body 128. The air washmodule 200 may be placed in the upper body, and the whole of thehumidification and air cleaning apparatus can be lifted through the grip129.

The upper inner body 140 may have the water tank insertion space 125formed therein so as to receive the water tank 300.

The clean connection flow passage 104 may be disposed outside the upperinlet 121, and the water tank insertion space 125 may be disposed insidethe upper inlet 121. Air flowing along the clean connection flow passage104 may pass through the upper inlet 121. When the water tank 300 isplaced in the water tank insertion space 125, filtered air passingthrough the upper inlet 121 may flow into the water tank 300.

Meanwhile, an outer visual body 214 may be coupled to the upper side ofthe upper body 120.

The outer visual body 214 may be a component of the visual body 210, butin this embodiment, may be fixed to the upper body 120. Unlike thisembodiment, the outer visual body 214 may also be fixed to the air washmodule 200. Unlike this embodiment, the outer visual body 214 may beomitted.

The outer visual body 214 may be fixed to the upper body 120. In thisembodiment, the outer visual body 214 may be coupled to the upper outerbody 128. The outer visual body 214 and the outer surface of the upperouter body 128 may form a continuous surface.

The outer visual body 214 may be formed of a material through which auser can see the inside of the outer visual body 214. The outer visualbody 214 may be formed of a transparent or translucent material.

A display module 160 may be disposed in at least one of the air cleanmodule 100 or the air wash module 200 to display the operational stateto a user. In this embodiment, the display module 160 may be disposed inthe base body 110 to display the operational state of the humidificationand air cleaning apparatus to a user.

The display module 160 may be disposed inside the outer visual body 214.The display module 160 may be disposed to adhere closely to the innerside surface of the outer visual body 214. When viewed from top, thedisplay module 160 may have a donut shape. The water tank 300 may beinserted into the display module 160.

The display module 160 may be supported by the outer visual body 214.The inner edge of the display module 160 may be supported by the upperinner body ring 126. The display module 160 may be disposed over the airguide 170. The display module 160 may be manufactured integrally with aconnector 260.

The display module 160 may be disposed over the air guide 170. Thedisplay module 160 may be disposed between the upper outer body 128 andthe upper inner body 140. The display module 160 may cover the upperouter body 128 and the upper inner body 140 such that a user cannot seea gap between the upper outer body 128 and the upper inner body 140. Theinside and the outside of the display module 160 may be sealed toprevent water from permeating between the upper outer body 128 and theupper inner body 140.

The inside of the display module 160 may be supported by the upper innerbody 140, and the outside of the display module 160 may be supported bythe outer visual body 218.

In this embodiment, the display 160 may have a ring shape. Unlike thisembodiment, the display 160 may be formed into an arc shape. The surfaceof the display 160 may be formed of a material that can reflect light,or may be coated with a material that can reflect light.

Accordingly, when water drops are formed on the visual body 210, waterdrops formed on the visual body 210 may be projected onto or reflectedby the surface of the display 160. When the water drops formed on visualbody 210 flows down, the same effect is also shown on the display 160.

This effect may give a visual stimulus to a user, and a user mayintuitively recognize that humidification is being performed. The waterdrop image projected on the display 160 may give a refreshment feelingto a user, and may allow a user to know the humidification state.

The upper side surface of the display 160 may be obliquely formed. Thedisplay 160 may be obliquely disposed toward a user. Accordingly, theinside of the display 160 may be high, and the outside thereof may below.

Hereinafter, each configuration of the air wash module 200 will bedescribed.

The air wash module 200 may increase humidity in the filtered air. Theair wash module 200 may implement a rain view in the humidification flowpassage 106. The air wash module 200 may spray and circulate water inthe water tank 300. The air wash module 200 may change water intosmall-sized droplets, and may again wash filtered air through scattereddroplets. When filtered air is washed through scattered droplets,humidification and filtering may be performed once again.

The air wash module 200 may include the humidification connection flowpassage 105, the humidification flow passage 106, the discharge flowpassage 107, and the water supply flow passage 109.

The air wash module 200 may include the water tank 300, the wateringunit 400, the humidification medium 50, the visual body 210, the topcover assembly 230, and a handle 180.

The handle 180 may be coupled to the visual body 210, may rotate in thevisual body 210, and may be held in the visual body 210. A user maysimply lift up only the air wash module 200 through, and may separatethe air wash module 200 from the air clean module 100.

The humidification connection flow passage 105 may be disposed outsidethe water tank 300, and may guide air into the water tank 300. Thehumidification connection flow passage 105 may be disposed outside thevisual body 210, and may guide air into the visual body 210.

The humidification connection flow passage 105 may be disposed at theoutside of at least one of the water tank 300 and the visual body 210,and may guide air into one of the water tank 300 and the visual body210.

The discharge flow passage 107 may be disposed between the top coverassembly 230 and the visual body 210. The discharge flow passage 107 maybe disposed in at least one of the top cover assembly 230 and the visualbody 210.

In this embodiment, the discharge flow passage 107 may be disposed atthe outer edge of the top cover assembly 230, and the water supply flowpassage 109 may be disposed at the center of the inside of the top coverassembly 230.

In the humidification and air cleaning apparatus according to thisembodiment, power source may be connected to the air clean module 100,and the air wash module 200 may be supplied with power through the airclean module 100.

Since the air wash module 200 has a structure separable from the airclean module 100, the air clean module 100 and the air wash module 200may include a separable power supply structure.

Since the air clean module 100 and the air wash module 200 are separablyassembled through the upper body 120, a connector 260 may be disposed inthe upper body 120 to provide power to the air wash module 200.

The top cover assembly 230 of the air wash module 200 may be providedwith a control part and a display which requires power. A top connector270 may be disposed in the air wash module 200, and may be separablyconnected to the connector 260. The top connector 270 may be disposed inthe top cover assembly 230.

In this embodiment, since the top cover assembly 230 is separable, theinner side surface of the visual body 210 or the inner side surface ofthe water tank 300 can be conveniently cleaned.

The top cover assembly 230 may include the water supply flow passage 109formed therein, and may form the discharge flow passage 107 with thevisual body 210 in between. The top cover assembly 230 may be installedseparably from the visual body 210. The top cover assembly 230 mayinclude the top connector 270 disposed therein and electricallyconnected to the connector 260.

When the top cover assembly 230 is placed, the top connector 270 may bedisposed over the connector 260. The top cover assembly 230 may besupplied with electricity from the connector 260 via the top connector270.

A water level display part (not shown) may be disposed around the watersupply flow passage 109 to display the water level of the water tank300. Thus, a user can check the water level of the water tank 300 whensupplying water. By disposing the water level display part on themovement line of water supply, a user can be prevented from excessivelysupplying water, and the water tank 300 can be prevented fromoverflowing.

The water level display part may be disposed in the top cover assembly230. The separable power supply structure of the top connector 270 andthe connector 260 may achieve effective upper water supply.

The water tank 300 may be separably placed in the upper body 120. Thewatering unit 400 may be disposed inside the water tank 300, and mayrotate inside the water tank 300.

The water tank 300 may include a water tank body 320 storing water, anair wash inlet 31 formed at the side surface of the water tank body 320,and a water tank body extension part 380 upwardly extending from thewater tank body 320 and coupled to the visual body 210.

In this embodiment, the water tank body 320 may be formed into acylindrical shape with an opened upper side. Unlike this embodiment, thewater tank body 320 may be formed into various shapes.

The water tank body extension part 380 may upwardly extend from thewater tank 300. The water tank body extension part 380 may form the airwash inlet 31. The air wash inlet 31 may be formed between the watertank body extension part 380.

The air wash inlet 31 may be formed in the side surface of the watertank body 320. The air wash inlet 31 may be formed on the water tankbody 320 in all directions of 360 degrees of a circumference of thewater tank body 320. The air wash inlet 31 may communicate with thehumidification connection flow passage 105.

The water tank body extension part 380 may guide water flowing down fromthe inner side surface of the visual body 210 into the water tank 300.The noise of dropping water can be minimized by guiding water flowingdown from the visual body 210.

The water tank body extension part 380 may be coupled to the lower endof the visual body 210.

In this embodiment, the air wash inlet 31 may be formed by theconfiguration of the water tank body 320. Unlike this embodiment, theair wash inlet 31 may also be formed by disposing the water tank bodyextension part 380 in the visual body 210. Also unlike this embodiment,a portion of a plurality of water tank body extension parts 380 may bedisposed in the water tank 300, and other water tank body extensionparts 380 may be disposed in the visual body 210 to configure the airwash inlet 31. Unlike this embodiment, the air wash inlet 31 may also beformed in a separate configuration distinguished from the visual body210 and the water tank 300. Unlike this embodiment, the air wash inlet31 may also be formed by forming an opened surface in the visual body210 and by forming an opened surface in the water tank 300.

That is, the air wash inlet 31 may be disposed in at least one of thewater tank 300 and the visual body 210. The air wash inlet 31 may beformed by combining the water tank 300 and the visual body 210. The airwash inlet 31 may be disposed in a separate configuration distinguishedfrom the water tank 300 and the visual body 210, and then the separateconfiguration may be disposed between the water tank 300 and the visualbody 210. The air wash inlet 31 may be formed by combination of thewater tank 300 and the visual body 210.

The air wash inlet 31 may be disposed at the side of the air wash module200, and may be connected to the humidification flow passage 106. Theair wash inlet 31 may communicate or connect with the humidificationconnection flow passage 105.

The watering unit 400 may have a function of supplying water to thehumidification medium 50. The watering unit 400 may have a function ofvisualizing the humidification process. The watering unit 400 may have afunction of implementing a rain view inside the air wash module 200.

The watering unit 400 may draw water inside the water tank 300 byrotating a watering housing 800, may upwardly pump drawn water, and thenmay spray pumped water toward the outside in a radial direction. Thewatering unit 400 may include the watering housing 800 that draws water,upwardly pumps drawn water, and then sprays pumped water toward theoutside in a radiation direction.

In this embodiment, the watering housing 800 may be rotated in order tospray water. Unlike this embodiment, water may also be sprayed using anozzle instead of the watering housing. Water may be supplied to thehumidification medium 50 by spraying water from the nozzle, and the rainview may be similarly implemented. According to embodiments, water maybe sprayed from the nozzle, and the nozzle may be rotated.

Water sprayed from the watering housing 800 may wet the humidificationmedium 50. Water sprayed from the watering housing 800 may be sprayedtoward at least one of the visual body 210 and the humidification medium50.

Water sprayed toward the visual body 210 may implement a rain view.Water sprayed toward the humidification medium 50 may be used tohumidify filtered air. The rain view may be implemented by sprayingwater toward the visual body 210, and then water flowing down from thevisual body 210 may be used to wet the humidification medium 50.

In this embodiment, a plurality of nozzles having different heights maybe disposed on the watering housing 800. Water discharged out of any onenozzle may form droplets on the inner side surface of the visual body210 to implement a rain view, and water discharged out of another nozzlemay wet the humidification medium 50 to be used for humidification.

The watering housing 800 may spray water to the inner side surface ofthe visual body 210, and sprayed water may flow down along the innerside surface of the visual body 210. Droplets formed in a form of waterdrop may be formed on the inner side surface of the visual body 210, anda user can see droplets through the visual body 210.

Particularly, water flowing down from the visual body 210 may wet thehumidification medium 50 to be used for humidification. Thehumidification medium 50 may be wetted with water sprayed from thewatering housing 800 and water flowing down from the visual body 210.

The visual body 210 may be coupled to the water tank 300, and may belocated over the water tank 300. At least a portion of visual body 210may be formed of a material through which a user can see the inside.

A display module 160 may be disposed outside the visual body 210. Thedisplay module 160 may be coupled to any one of the visual body 210 andthe upper body 120.

The display module 160 may be disposed on a location where a user canobserve a rain view. In this embodiment, the display module 160 may bedisposed at the upper body 120.

When the air wash module 200 is placed, the outer surface of the visualbody 210 may adhere closely to the display module 160. At least aportion of the surface of the display module 160 may be formed of orcoated with a material that reflects light.

Droplets formed on the visual body 210 may also be projected onto thesurface of the display module 160. Accordingly, a user can observe themotion of droplets at both visual body 210 and display module 160.

The water tank 300 may include the air wash inlet 31 which is formedthereon and through which air passes. The air wash inlet 31 may belocated between the connection flow passage 103 and the humidificationflow passage 106. The air wash inlet 31 may be an outlet of theconnection flow passage 103, and may be an inlet of the humidificationflow passage 106.

Filtered air supplied from the air clean module 100 may flow into theair wash module 200 through the air wash inlet 31.

The humidification medium 50 may include a water tank humidificationmedium 51 disposed at the inlet of the humidification flow passage 106,and a discharge humidification medium 55 disposed at the outlet of thehumidification flow passage 106. The outlet of the humidification flowpassage 106 and the inlet of the discharge flow passage 107 may beconnected to each other. Accordingly, the discharge humidificationmedium 55 may be disposed at the discharge flow passage 107.

Since the connection flow passage 103, the humidification flow passage106, and the discharge flow passage 107 are not formed of structuressuch as duct, it may be difficult to clearly distinguish the boundariesthereof. However, the humidification flow passage 106 in whichhumidification is performed is defined as between the water tankhumidification medium 51 and the discharge humidification medium 55, theconnection flow passage 103 and the discharge flow passage 107 may benaturally defined.

The connection flow passage 103 may be defined as between the blowerhousing 150 and the water tank humidification medium 51. The dischargeflow passage 107 may be defined as after the discharge humidificationmedium 55.

In this embodiment, the water tank humidification medium 51 may bedisposed at the air wash inlet 31 of the water tank 300.

The water tank humidification medium 51 may be located at at least oneof the same plane, the outside, and the inside of the air wash inlet 31.Since the water tank humidification medium 51 is wetted with water forhumidification, it may be desirable that the water tank humidificationmedium 51 is located at the inside of the air wash inlet 31.

Water flowing down after wetting the water tank humidification medium 51may be stored in the water tank 300. Water flowing down after wettingthe water tank humidification medium 51 may be configured so as not toflow out of the water tank 300.

Thus, the water tank humidification medium 51 may humidify filtered airpassing through the air wash inlet 31.

Water that is naturally evaporated from humidification medium 50 mayhumidify filtered air. The natural evaporation means that waterevaporates in a state where separated heat is not applied to water. Ascontact with air increases, as the flow velocity of air increases, asthe pressure in the air decreases, the natural evaporation may bepromoted. The natural evaporation may also be referred to as naturalvaporization.

The humidification medium 50 may promote the natural evaporation ofwater. In this embodiment, the humidification medium 50 may be wettedwith water, but may not be immersed in the water tank 300.

Since disposed separately from water stored in the water tank 300, thewater tank humidification medium 51 and the discharge humidificationmedium 55 may not be always wet even though there is water stored in thewater tank 300. That is, the water tank humidification medium 51 and thedischarge humidification medium 55 may become wet only during theoperation of humidification mode, and the water tank humidificationmedium 51 and the discharge humidification medium 55 may be maintainedat a dry state during the operation of air cleaning mode.

The water tank humidification medium 51 may cover the air wash inlet 31,and air may penetrate the water tank humidification medium 51 to flowinto the water tank 300.

The discharge humidification medium 55 may be disposed at the outlet ofthe humidification flow passage 106 or at the inlet of the dischargeflow passage 107.

In this embodiment, the discharge humidification medium 55 may bedisposed so as to cover the upper part of the visual body 210. Thedischarge humidification medium 55 may be placed on the visual body 210.Unlike this embodiment, the discharge humidification medium 55 may becoupled to the undersurface of the top cover assembly 230.

The discharge humidification medium 55 may cover the discharge flowpassage 107, and humidified air may penetrate the dischargehumidification medium 55 and then flow to the discharge flow passage107.

FIG. 7 is a magnified view of a portion G shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is aperspective view illustrating an installation state of the wateringhousing shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 9 is a front view of FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is across-sectional view taken along line M-M of FIG. 9. FIG. 11 is a planview of FIG. 8. FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view illustrating thewatering housing shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of FIG.12 viewed from bottom. FIG. 14 is a front view of FIG. 12. FIG. 15 is across-sectional view taken along line N-N of FIG. 14. FIG. 16 is amagnified view illustrating a watering groove shown in FIG. 15.

The watering housing 800 may be a configuration for spraying waterstored in the water tank 300. The watering housing 800 may be acomponent for spraying water stored in the water tank 300.

The watering housing 800 may rotate by a torque of a watering motor 42,and upon rotation, may draw water stored in the water tank 300 and thenpump water upward. Water pumped into the watering housing 800 may bedischarged through a nozzle 410.

A pumping unit may be disposed in the watering housing 800. The pumpingunit may upwardly pump water in water tank 300. The pumping of water inthe water tank 300 may be implemented in various methods.

For example, water may be pumped by the pump, and then may be sprayed.

For example, the watering housing 800 may rotate, and upon rotation, maypump water through friction or mutual interference with water.

In this embodiment, a structure in which water is pumped throughrotation of the watering housing may be proposed. In this embodiment,the pumping unit may be a pump groove 810 which upwardly push waterthrough friction or mutual interference with water.

The pump groove 810 that is a pumping unit may be disposed on the innerside surface of the watering housing 800. The pump groove 810 mayimprove the pumping efficiency. The pump groove 810 may protrude fromthe inner side surface of the watering housing 800. The pump groove 810may longitudinally extend in a vertical direction. The pump groove 810may be radially disposed with respect to a rotational axis of thewatering housing 800. The rotational axis of the watering housing 800,the watering motor shaft 43 and the power transmission shaft 640 have asame axis.

The lower end of the watering housing 800 may be spaced from theundersurface of the water tank 300 by a certain gap to form a suctiongap 801. Water of the water tank 300 may be drawn into the wateringhousing 800 through the suction gap 801.

The watering housing 800 may be downwardly opened. The watering housing800 may have a cup shape. The watering housing 800 may have an invertedcup shape. A housing space 805 may be formed inside the watering housing800.

The column 35 of the water tank 300 may be located inside the wateringhousing 800, and a power transmission module 600 may be disposed insidethe column 35. The watering housing 800 may be disposed to cover thecolumn 35.

The watering housing 800 may be formed such that the horizontal sectionthereof gradually expands in an upward direction. The column 35 may beformed such that the horizontal section thereof is gradually reduced inan upward direction. The shapes of the watering housing 800 and thecolumn 35 may be implemented in order to efficiently pump water. Thecapacity of housing space 805 may gradually increase in an upwarddirection.

When the watering housing 800 rotates, drawn water may adhere closely tothe inner circumferential surface of the watering housing 800 by acentrifugal force. The pump groove 810 formed on the innercircumferential surface of the watering housing 800 may provide a torqueto water drawn to the inside.

A nozzle 410 may be disposed in the watering housing 800 to dischargedrawn water to the outside. In this embodiment, the nozzle 410 may bedisposed so as to discharge water in a horizontal direction. Pumpedwater may be discharged through the nozzle 410.

In this embodiment, water discharged out of the nozzle 410 may besprayed to the visual body 210.

The number of nozzles 410 may vary with the design conditions. In thisembodiment, the nozzle 410 may be disposed in plurality while havingdifferent heights from each other in the watering housing 800. A nozzlethat is disposed at an upper side of the watering housing 800 may bedefined as a second nozzle, and a nozzle that is disposed at a middleside of the watering housing 800 may be defined as a first nozzle.

When the watering housing 800 rotates at the same speed as and fasterthan a first rotation speed, water may be sprayed from the first nozzle.When the watering housing 800 rotates at the same speed as and fasterthan a second rotation speed, water may be sprayed from the secondnozzle.

The second rotation speed may be larger than the first rotation speed.

Only when the watering housing 800 rotates at a high speed, water may bedischarged out of the second nozzle. The watering housing 800 may bedisposed such that water is not discharged through the second nozzle ata usual rotation speed. The first nozzle may discharge water in allstages where watering housing ordinarily operates.

The second nozzle may be disposed in plurality. The first nozzle may bedisposed in plurality.

When the watering housing 800 rotates at a usual rotation speed, pumpedwater may rise at least higher than the first nozzle. When the wateringhousing 800 rotates at a high speed, pumped water may rise to the sameheight as and higher than the second nozzle.

The second nozzle may be disposed in plurality in a circumferentialdirection of the watering housing 800. The first nozzle may also bedisposed in plurality in a circumferential direction of the wateringhousing 800.

When the watering housing 800 does not rotate, water may not bedischarged through the nozzle 410. When a user operates only clean mode(air clean module operates but air wash module stops), the watering unit40 may not operate, and only the air blowing unit 20 may operate. When auser operates only humidification mode, the watering housing 800 mayrotate, and water may be discharged out of the nozzle 410. When a useroperates both air cleaning mode and humidification mode, waterdischarged out of the nozzle 410 may be sprayed to the inner sidesurface of the visual body 210.

Since the watering housing 800 rotates, water discharged from the nozzle410 may hit the inner side surface of the visual body 210, and then mayflow along the inner side surface of the visual body 210.

A user may visually check through the visual body 210 that water issprayed. This spraying of water may mean that humidification mode isoperating. Through the spraying of water, a user can intuitively checkthat humidification mode is operating.

Droplets may be formed on the visual body 210 by sprayed water, and thedroplets may flow down.

In this embodiment, the watering housing 800 may have three parts.Unlike this embodiment, the watering housing 800 may be manufacturedinto one or two components.

The lower end of the watering housing 800 may be disposed to be spacedfrom the undersurface of the water tank 300 by a certain gap.

The watering housing 800 may include a first watering housing 820, asecond watering housing 840, a watering housing cover 860, and awatering power transmission unit 880.

The watering housing 800 may be assembled with the power transmissionshaft 640, and may include a structure disposed therein and receiving atorque from the power transmission shaft 640. In the watering housing800, the watering power transmission unit 880 and the watering housingcover 860 may be assembled with the power transmission shaft 640. Thewatering housing 800 may be connected to the power transmission shaft640 at two points, and may receive a torque from the two points.

Unlike this embodiment, the watering housing 800 may be connected to thepower transmission shaft 640 at one point, and may receive a torque fromthe point.

Unlike this embodiment, the watering housing 800 may receive a torque bya method other than the power transmission shaft. For example, thetorque of the watering motor may be delivered by a belt-pulley method.For example, the torque of the watering motor may be delivered by a gearengagement method. For example, the torque of the watering motor may bedelivered by a chain method. For example, the torque of the wateringmotor may be delivered by a clutch method.

The power transmission shaft 640 may have a screw thread 643 formed atthe upper and lower ends thereof.

The screw thread 643 may be assembled with the watering housing cover860. The lower screw thread may be assembled with a second coupler 620.A first coupler 610 may be disposed on the upper body 120 to be coupledto the second coupler 620.

The watering motor 42 may be disposed in the upper body 120. Thewatering motor 42 may provide a torque to the watering housing 800.

A coupler disposed in the air clean module 100 and coupled to thewatering motor 42 may be defined as the first coupler 610. A couplerdisposed in the air wash module 200 and separably coupled to the firstcoupler 610 may be defined as the second coupler 610.

One of the first coupler 610 and the second coupler 620 may have a maleshape, and the other may have a female shape. In this embodiment thefirst coupler 610 may have a male shape, and the second coupler 620 mayhave a female shape. In this embodiment, the first coupler 610 may beseparably coupled to and inserted into the second coupler 620. Unlikethis embodiment, the second coupler 620 may be coupled to and insertedinto the first coupler 610.

The watering motor 42 may be installed in the upper body 120. Thewatering motor 42 may be located over and spaced from the blower motor22. The water tank 300 may be disposed in the upper body 120. When thewater tank 300 is placed on the upper body 120, the first and secondcouplers 610 and 620 may be power-transmittably connected. The wateringmotor shaft 43 of the watering motor 42 may be disposed so as to faceupward. The first coupler 610 may be installed on the upper end of thewatering motor shaft 43.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the watering housing 800 will bedescribed as follows.

The first watering housing 820 may have the upper and lower sidesopened, and may have the pump groove 810 disposed therein. The lower endof the first watering housing 820 may be spaced from the undersurface ofthe water tank 300 by a certain gap to form a suction gap 801.

The second watering housing 840 may have the upper and lower sidesopened, and may be assembled with the upper end of the first wateringhousing 820.

The watering housing cover 860 may be coupled to the upper end of thesecond watering housing 840, and may cover the upper surface of thesecond watering housing 840.

The watering power transmission unit 880 may be connected to at leastone of the first watering housing 820 and the second watering housing840 to receive a torque of the power transmission module 600. In thisembodiment, the watering power transmission unit 880 may be connected tothe first watering housing 820.

Unlike this embodiment, the first watering housing 820 and the secondwatering housing 840 may be integrally manufactured. Also, unlike thisembodiment, the first watering housing 820 and watering housing cover860 may be integrally manufactured.

The upper section of the first watering housing 820 may be larger thanthe lower section thereof. The first watering housing 820 may form anoblique in upward and downward directions. The first watering housing820 may have a conical shape, a lower section of which is narrow.

The pump groove 810 may be disposed inside the first watering housing820. The pump groove 810 may be formed in a vertical direction. The pumpgroove 810 may be radially disposed around the watering motor shaft 43.The pump groove 810 may be disposed in plurality, and may protrude tothe axial center of the watering housing 800.

The lower end of the first watering housing 820 may be spaced from theundersurface of the water tank 300 to form the suction gap 801. Theupper end of the first watering housing 820 may be coupled to the lowerend of the second watering housing 840.

The first watering housing 820 and the second watering housing 840 maybe assembled and disassembled. In this embodiment, the first wateringhousing 820 and the second watering housing 840 may be assembled throughscrew coupling. The first watering housing 820 may have a screw thread822 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the upper sidethereof, and the second watering housing 840 may have a screw thread 842formed on the inner circumferential surface of the lower side thereof.

The screw thread 822 formed on the first watering housing 820 may bedefined as a first thread 822, and the screw thread 842 formed on thesecond watering housing 840 may be defined as a second thread 842.

A first barrier 823 may be formed under the first thread 822 to restrictthe movement of the second watering housing 840. The first barrier 823may be formed in a circumferential direction of the first wateringhousing 820. The first barrier 823 may be formed into a strip shape, andmay outwardly protrude from the first watering housing 820.

When the first watering housing 820 and the second watering housing 840are assembled, the first barrier 823 may adhere closely to the lower endof the second watering housing 840. The first barrier 823 may outwardlyprotrude more than the first thread 822.

A first packing 825 may be disposed between the first thread 822 and thefirst barrier 823. The first packing 825 may prevent water from leakingbetween the first watering housing 820 and the second watering housing840. The first packing 825 may be formed of an elastic material. Thefirst packing 825 may have a ring shape.

A packing installation rib 824 may be disposed to fix the location ofthe first packing 825. The packing installation rib may be disposed onthe extension line of the first thread 822. The packing installation rib824 may be a portion of the first thread 822.

Accordingly, the first thread 822 may be formed in plurality, and may bediscontinuously distributed. One of the first threads 822 may be thepacking installation rib 824.

The first nozzle 411 may be disposed in the first watering housing 820.In this embodiment, two first nozzles 411 may be disposed. The two firstnozzles 411 may be disposed so as to direct the opposite direction toeach other.

The first nozzle 411 may communicate the inner and outer sides of thefirst watering housing 820. In this embodiment, the aperture area of theinside of the first nozzle 411 may be larger than the aperture area ofthe outside of the first nozzle 411.

A watering blade 850 may be formed on the outer circumferential surfaceof the second watering housing 840. The watering blade 850 may allowhumidified air to flow. When the watering housing 800 rotates, thewatering blade 850 may attract ambient air.

Air of the humidification flow passage 106 disposed in the wateringhousing 800 may mostly flow to the discharge flow passage 107 by theoperation of the blower fan 24, but air around the watering blade 850may flow in the opposite direction. The watering blade 850 may locallyform air flow in the opposite direction of air flow by the blower fan24. The watering blade 850 may also form air flow in the same directionas the blower fan 24 in accordance with the shape thereof. In this case,air around the watering housing 80 may gather on the surface of thewatering housing 800 by the rotation of the watering blade 850.

The air flow by the watering blade 850 may have an effect of flowingwater particles around the watering housing 800 into the water tank 300.The rotation of the watering blade 850 may generate the air volume, andmay attract water particles around the watering housing 800.

The air flow by the watering blade 850 may serve to gather droppingwater into the watering housing 800 when water drops from the watersupply flow passage 109 to the upper part of the watering housing 800.

When the watering housing 800 rotates and water is supplied through thewater supply flow passage 109, water may hit the surface of the wateringhousing 800 to be irregularly scattered. The air flow by the wateringblade 850 may gather water particles scattering during water supplytoward the surface of the watering housing 800.

The second watering housing 840 may include second nozzles 412 and 413formed therein. The second nozzles 412 and 413 may spray water towardthe visual body 210. In this embodiment, two second nozzles 412 and 413may be disposed. One of the two second nozzles may be defined as a 2-1nozzle 412, and the other may be defined as a 2-2 nozzle 413.

The 2-1 nozzle 412 and the 2-2 nozzle 413 may be disposed so as to facethe opposite directions to each other. The 2-1 nozzle 412 and the 2-2nozzle 413 may be symmetrically disposed based on the power transmissionshaft 640.

In this embodiment, the 2-1 nozzle 412 and the 2-2 nozzle 413 may have acertain height difference. The 2-1 nozzle 412 and the 2-2 nozzle 413 maynot be disposed at the same height.

Due to the height difference between the 2-1 nozzle 412 and the 2-2nozzle 413, the location of water hitting the visual body 210 may bedifferently set. Accordingly, when the watering housing 800 rotates,water sprayed from the 2-1 nozzle 412 and water sprayed from the 2-2nozzle 413 may pass different paths.

The trajectory of water hitting the inner side surface of the visualbody 210 from the second nozzles 412 and 413 may be defined as a sprayline.

The spray line formed by the 2-1 nozzle 412 may be defined as a firstspray line, and the spray line formed by the 2-2 nozzle 413 may bedefined as a second spray line.

In this embodiment, water sprayed from the 2-1 nozzle 412 may pass anyone location of the visual body 210, and after a certain time, watersprayed from the 2-2 nozzle 413 may pass another location having adifferent height. That is, two spray lines may be formed on the innerside surface of the visual body 210, and a user can more effectivelyrecognize that water is sprayed through this visual show.

When water is discharged from the two second nozzles disposed at acertain height, only one spray line may be formed. When the wateringhousing 800 rotates at a high speed, a phase difference may be veryshortly formed even though the first and second nozzles 142 and 143 arelocated at the opposite direction. In this case, an optical illusionthat water flows down from one spray line may be caused.

Meanwhile, when two spray lines are formed, locations which water hitsmay differ. Accordingly, sounds generated by water hitting may bedifferent. That is, a sound generated from the first spray line and asound generated from the second spray line may be different. Due to thissound difference, a user can acoustically check that the wateringhousing 800 is rotating.

When only one spray line is formed, the same sound may be continuouslygenerated. Accordingly, a user may not recognize the sound or maymistake the sound as a simple noise.

The sound differences through the plurality of spray lines may have aneffect of efficiently delivering the operation situation to visual orhearing impaired persons. Also, even in a dark environment, it may beeasy to check that the humidification and air cleaning apparatus isoperating.

Meanwhile, a water curtain inhibiting rib 870 may be disposed in thesecond watering housing 840 to inhibit a water curtain rotation flow.The water curtain rotation flow may mean a flow rotating along the innerside surface of the watering housing 800.

The pump groove 810 of the first watering housing 820 may be for formingthe water curtain rotation flow, and the water curtain inhibiting rib870 may be for inhibiting the water curtain rotation flow.

In the first watering housing 820, since water needs to be pumped up tothe second watering housing 840, the water curtain rotation flow may beactively generated. However, in regard to water raised up to the secondwatering housing 840, when the water curtain rotation flow is notformed, water may be easily sprayed through the second nozzles 412 and413.

When a high-speed water curtain rotation flow is formed inside thesecond watering housing 840, water may not be discharged through thesecond nozzles 412 and 413, and may flow along the inside.

Also, when a larger amount of water stays in the second watering housing840, the vibration of the watering housing may increases. Only whenwater pumped to the second watering housing 840 is quickly sprayedthrough the second nozzles 412 and 413, the eccentricity of the wateringhousing 800 can be minimized, and thus the vibration according theretocan be minimized.

The water curtain inhibiting rib 870 may minimize the water curtainrotation flow, and thus may serve to minimize the eccentricity andvibration of the watering housing 800.

The water curtain inhibiting rib 870 may protrude from the inner sidesurface of the second watering housing 840. In this embodiment, thewater curtain inhibiting rib 870 may protrude toward the powertransmission shaft 640. The water curtain inhibiting rib 870 may beformed in a direction of crossing the water curtain rotation flow.

The water curtain rotation flow may form a spiral form or circular formalong the inner side surface of the second watering housing 840, andthus the water curtain inhibiting rib 870 may be formed in upward anddownward directions.

In this embodiment, the water curtain inhibiting rib 870 may be formedin a vertical direction. The water curtain inhibiting rib 870 may bedisposed in plurality. In this embodiment, three water curtaininhibiting ribs 870 may be disposed. The plurality of water curtaininhibiting rib 870 may be disposed at a uniform interval on the innercircumferential surface of the second watering housing 840.

In this embodiment, the water curtain inhibiting rib 870 may protrude byabout 5 mm. The protrusion length of the water curtain inhibiting rib870 may relate to the thickness of the water curtain rotation flow, andmay be variously changed in accordance with embodiments.

In this embodiment, the water curtain inhibiting rib 870 may beconnected to the watering power transmission unit 880. Unlike thisembodiment, the water curtain inhibiting rib 870 and the watering powertransmission unit 880 may be separately disposed.

In this embodiment, a mold can be simplified by manufacturing the watercurtain inhibiting rib 870 so to be connected to the watering powertransmission unit 880.

The watering power transmission unit 880 may be a component fordelivering a torque of the power transmission shaft 640 to the wateringhousing 800.

In this embodiment, the watering power transmission unit 880 may beconnected to the second watering housing 840. Unlike this embodiment,the watering power transmission unit 880 may also be connected to thefirst watering housing 820.

In this embodiment, the watering power transmission unit 880 may bemanufactured integrally with the second watering housing 840. Unlikethis embodiment, the watering power transmission unit 880 may beseparately manufactured, and then may be assembled with the secondwatering housing 840.

The watering power transmission unit 880 may include a bushinginstallation part 882 located at the axial center of the wateringhousing 800, and a watering connection part 884 connecting the bushinginstallation part 882 and the watering housing 800. In this embodiment,the bushing installation part 882, the watering connection part 884, andthe second watering housing 820 may be integrally injection-molded.

The watering connection part 884 may be manufactured into a rib shape.The watering connection part 884 may be radially disposed based on theaxial center, and may be disposed in plurality.

In this embodiment, the watering connection part 884 may be manufacturedintegrally with the water curtain inhibiting rib 870. The wateringconnection part 884 and the water curtain inhibiting rib may beconnected to each other.

The power transmission shaft 640 may be installed so as to penetrate thebushing installation part 882.

The lower side of the bushing installation part 882 may be opened. Abushing 90 may be inserted through the opened lower side of the bushinginstallation part 882.

The bushing installation part 882 and the bushing 90 may be separated ina vertical direction. The bushing installation part 882 and the bushing90 may be subject to mutual stopping in a rotation direction.

For this, a bushing stopping part 93 may be formed on any one of thebushing installation part 882 and the bushing 90, and a bushing stoppinggroove 883 may be formed on the other. In this embodiment, the bushingstopping part 93 may be formed on the bushing 90, and the bushingstopping groove 883 may be formed in the bushing installation part 882.

The bushing stopping groove 883 may be formed in the inner side surfaceof the bushing installation part 882, and may have a concave shape. Thebushing stopping part 93 may be formed on the outer surface of thebushing 90, and may have a convex shape.

The bushing stopping part 93 may be inserted and fitted into the bushingstopping groove 882.

Unlike this embodiment, the bushing installation part 882 and thebushing 90 may be integrally manufactured. Since the bushing 90 isformed of a metallic material, the bushing 90 may be disposed in themold and then may be integrally manufactured by injection-molding thematerial of the second watering housing 840 when the second wateringhousing 840 is manufactured.

The bushing 90 may be coupled to the power transmission shaft 640 of thepower transmission module 600.

The bushing 90 may be coupled to the power transmission shaft 640 toreceive a torque. The bushing 90 may be formed of a metallic material.When the bushing 90 is not formed of a hard metallic material, abrasionmay occur, thereby causing vibration.

The bushing 90 may have a bushing axis hollow formed therein andpenetrating the bushing 90 in a vertical direction. The powertransmission shaft 640 may be inserted into the bushing axis hollow.

When the watering housing 800 rotates, the bushing 90 may reducevibration. The bushing 90 may be located on the power transmission shaft640. In this embodiment, the bushing 90 may be located at the center ofgravity of the watering housing 800. Since the bushing 90 is located atthe center of gravity of the watering housing 800, the bushing 90 cansignificantly reduce the vibration of the watering housing 800 duringthe rotation.

The bushing 90 and the power transmission shaft 640 may be assembled bya fitting method. The bushing 90 may be supported by the powertransmission shaft 640.

In order to support the bushing 90, the power transmission shaft 640 mayinclude a shaft support end 642. The diameter at the upper side may besmaller than the diameter at the lower side based on the shaft supportend 642.

The bushing 90 may be inserted through the upper end of the powertransmission shaft 640.

In order to minimize abrasion, the shaft support end 642 may be formedinto tapered, chamfered or rounded shape. When the shaft support end 642is formed into a right-angled shape, abrasion may occur during theassembling process or the operation process.

When the shaft support end 642 is abraded, the bushing 90 may move,thereby causing vibration. Also, the shaft support end 642 is abraded,the bushing 90 may incline or move, and thus misalignment with the powertransmission shaft 640 may occur. Also, when misalignment between thebushing 90 and the power transmission shaft 640, eccentricity may occurduring rotation, and thus vibration may occur.

The watering housing cover 860 may be coupled to the upper side of thesecond watering housing 840, and may seal the upper side of the secondwatering housing 840. The watering housing cover 860 may be coupled tothe second watering housing 840 by screw coupling.

In this embodiment, the watering housing cover 860 may be assembled withpower transmission module 600. Unlike this embodiment, the wateringhousing cover 860 may be separate from the power transmission module600.

When the watering housing cover 860 is coupled to the power transmissionshaft 640, the eccentricity and vibration of the watering housing 800can be more effectively reduced.

The watering housing cover 860 may include a cover body 862 covering theupper opening of the second watering housing 840, a cover body border863 downwardly extending from the cover body 862 and covering the upperend of the second watering housing 840, a packing installation rib 864disposed under the cover body 862 and spaced from the cover body border863 by a certain gap, a shaft fixing part 866 fixed to the powertransmission shaft 640, and a reinforcing rib 868 connecting the shaftfixing part 866 and the packing installation rib 864.

When viewed from top, the cover body 862 may have a circular shape. Thediameter of the cover body 862 may be larger than the diameter of thesecond watering housing 840.

Unlike this embodiment, the cover body may not have a circular shape intop view. Also, the shape of the watering housing 800 in top view maynot be limited to a specific shape.

The cover body border 863 may form the edge of the cover body 862. Thecover body border 863 may be formed in a ring shape, and may bemanufactured integrally with the cover body 862. The cover body border863 may have a plurality of protrusions 861 formed on the outer surfacethereof, and the protrusions 861 may be formed along the circumferentialdirection of 360 degrees of a circumference thereof. The protrusion 861may provide a grip feeling for a user when the watering housing cover860 is separated.

The protrusion 861 may effectively scatter dropping water during watersupply from the upper side. Water dropping through water supply from theupper side may drop down on the watering housing cover 860, and may flowto the cover body border 863 by the rotation of the watering housing800. Thereafter, water may be separated into a water drop form at theprotrusion 861, and then may be scattered to the inner side surface ofthe visual body 210. The protrusion 861 may effectively scatter watersupplied from the upper side.

The packing installation rib 864 may be located inside the cover bodyborder 863, and may be spaced from the cover body border 863 by acertain distance. A second packing 865 may be disposed between the coverbody border 863 and the packing installation rib 864.

The second packing 865 may seal a gap between the watering housing cover860 and the second watering housing 840. Since the first packing 825 andthe second packing 865 may interrupt leakage of water of the housingspace 805, the pressure of water discharged through the nozzle 410 canbe maintained constant.

When water leaks between the first watering housing 820 and the secondwatering housing 840, or when water leaks between the second wateringhousing 840 and the watering housing cover 860, it may be difficult tomaintain a constant pressure of water discharged out of the nozzle 410.

That is, when a water leakage occurs at the watering housing 800, watermay not be sprayed from the nozzle 410 even though the watering housing800 is rotated.

The cover body border 863 and the second watering housing 840 may bescrew-coupled. In this embodiment, the watering housing cover 860 andthe second watering housing 840 may be assembled through tight fitting.

The shaft fixing part 866 may be assembled with the power transmissionshaft 640, and may receive a torque from the power transmission shaft640.

The shaft fixing part 866 and the power transmission shaft may bescrew-coupled. For this, a screw thread 643 for screw coupling with thewatering housing cover 860 may be formed on the outer circumferentialsurface of the upper end of the power transmission shaft 640.

A screw thread for assembling with the power transmission shaft 640 maybe formed on the shaft fixing part 866. In this embodiment, a shaftfixing member 867 may be disposed on shaft fixing part 866, and theshaft fixing member 867 may be integrally double injection-molded on theshaft fixing part 866. In this embodiment, a nut may be used for theshaft fixing member 867.

Unlike the watering housing cover 860, the shaft fixing member 867 maybe formed of a metallic material. Since the power transmission shaft 640is formed of a metallic material, a part screw-coupled to the powertransmission shaft 640 also needs to be formed of a metallic material toprevent abrasion or damage during coupling. When the whole of thewatering housing cover 860 is formed of a metallic material, or when theshaft fixing part 866 is formed of a metallic material, it may bedesirable to form a screw thread on the shaft fixing part 866 itself.

The watering housing cover 860 may have a diameter larger than thediameter of the second watering housing 840. When viewed from upperside, only the watering housing cover 860 may be exposed, and the secondwatering housing 840 and the first watering housing 820 may not beexposed.

Accordingly, at least a portion of water supplied to the water supplyflow passage 109 may drop down on the watering housing cover 860. Whenthe watering housing 800 rotates, water dropping on the watering housingcover 860 may be outwardly scattered from the surface of the wateringhousing cover 860 in a radiation direction.

The rotating watering housing cover 860 may spray supplied waster alongthe rotation direction, and an effect as if water drops from an umbrellacan be achieved. Particularly, water drops may be broken away from theplurality of protrusions 861 which are disposed in a circumferentialdirection of the watering housing cover 860.

Water sprayed from the watering housing cover 860 in a rotationdirection may collide with the inner side surface of the visual body210, and may create a rain view.

The rain view may mean a situation in which droplets formed on the innerside surface of the visual body 210 flow down like rain drops.

In this embodiment, the watering groove 810 may be designed in a form ofeffectively pumping water in the water tank 300. In this embodiment, thewatering groove 810 may be located under the nozzle 410. Particularly,the watering groove 810 may be disposed under the first nozzle 411.

The watering groove 810 may convert a horizontal torque of water into avertical direction. When the watering groove 810 is formed, water may bemore effectively pumped in a vertical direction.

In this embodiment, the watering groove 810 may formed on the innersurface of the watering housing 800, may protrude toward the inside. Thewatering groove 810 may longitudinally extend in a vertical direction.Unlike this embodiment, the watering groove 810 may also be formed in azigzag shape. In this embodiment, since the first watering housing 820is manufactured by injection molding, a mold may be easily withdrawn bydisposing the watering groove 810 in a vertical direction.

When the manufacturing method is changed, the watering groove 810 may beformed in various patterns instead of a straight-line, and theprotruding surface area may be increased.

For example, the watering groove 810 may be formed in a form of dot.Also, the watering groove 810 may be formed in a form of dotted line.The watering groove 810 may inwardly protrude in a form of rectangularsection, circular section, and triangular section.

The surface area of the watering groove 810 may be closely related withthe pumping efficiency. Particularly, the surface area of the wateringgroove 810 may be related with the area of the watering inlet 802. Thewatering inlet 802 may be defined as an area of a lower opening of thewatering housing.

The total surface area of the watering groove 810 may be formed to rangefrom about 77% to about 129.5% with respect to the area of the wateringinlet 802.

In order to form the total surface area of the watering groove 810 intothe above-mentioned ratio, the number of the watering grooves 810 mayincrease. Also, in order to form the total surface area of the wateringgroove 810 into the above-mentioned ratio, the protrusion length of thewatering grooves 810 may increase. Also, in order to form the totalsurface area of the watering groove 810 into the above-mentioned ratio,the vertical length of the watering grooves 810 may increase.

The vertical length of the watering groove 810 may be formed to rangefrom about 100% to about 30% with respect to the height of the wateringhousing 80.

The area of the watering inlet 802 may be formed to range from about19.5% to about 32.7% with respect to the maximum area of the wateringhousing 80. The maximum area may be the widest area among the innerhorizontal areas of the watering housing 80. In this embodiment, thearea of the upper opening of the second watering housing 840 may be themaximum area.

The watering groove 810 may be formed on the inner side surface of thefirst watering housing 84, and may have an inclination with respect tothe vertical direction. The inclination angle of the watering groove 810may be equal to or greater than at least 3 degrees. In this embodiment,the watering groove 810 may form an inclination angle of about 3degrees.

The watering groove 810 may form an inclination angle so as to befarther away from the power transmission shaft 640 at an upper sidethereof. Like the watering groove 810, the watering connection part 884may serve to change a horizontal flow of water into a vertical flow.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a watering unit accordingto a second embodiment of the present invention.

The pumping unit of the watering unit according to this embodiment mayinclude a water pump 1810.

The pumping unit according to this embodiment may include a water pump1810 operated by the driving force of the watering motor 42, waterpumping pipes 1811 and 1812 disposed in the watering housing 1800 andallowing water pumped by the water pump 1810 to flow therein, and waterpumping nozzles 1830 and 1850 disposed at the ends of the water pumpingpipes 1811 and 1812 and spraying pumped water.

The watering motor 42 may actuate the water pump 1810.

The water pump 1810 may draw water inside the water tank 300, and maypump drawn water into the water pumping pipes 1811 and 1812. The waterpump 1810 may communicate with the inside of the water tank 300, and maybe supplied with water from the inside of the water tank 300.

Like the first embodiment, the watering motor 42 may be disposed in thebase body 110, and may separate the water tank 300 from the base body110. The drawing of couplers for delivering a torque of the wateringmotor 42 will be omitted herein.

The water pumping pipe may be disposed in plurality. In this embodiment,the water pumping pipe may include a first water pumping pipe 1811connected to the first nozzle 411, and a second water pumping pipe 1812connected to the second nozzle 412.

Also, a valve may be disposed in the water pumping pipe to control theflow direction of water. The valve may allow water to flow to at leastone of the first water pumping pipe 1811 and the second water pumpingpipe 1812.

The water pumping nozzle may include a first water pumping nozzle 1830disposed at the first water pumping pipe 1811, and a second waterpumping nozzle 1850 disposed at the second water pumping pipe 1812.

The first water pumping nozzle 1830 may be disposed at the first nozzle411. The second water pumping nozzle 1850 may be disposed at the secondnozzle 412.

In this embodiment, water may be sprayed when the watering housing 1800is in a stopped state.

Hereinafter, since other components are identical to those of the firstembodiment, a detailed description thereof will be omitted herein.

A humidification and air cleaning apparatus according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention has at least one of the followingeffects.

First, water in the water tank can be drawn, pumped, and sprayed througha friction of the pump groove and water by rotating the wateringhousing.

Second, water in the water tank can be drawn, pumped, and sprayed byoperating the pump without rotating the watering housing.

Third, water drops sprayed or scattered from the watering unit can washair passing the humidification flow passage.

Fourth, since the pump groove is disposed inside the watering housing,the flow direction of drawn water can be changed into the upper side.

Fifth, the shape, total surface area, vertical length, inclinationdirection, and the inclination degree of the pump groove can beoptimized to improve the efficiency.

Sixth, the shape and volume of the watering housing can be minimized byoptimizing the area of the watering inlet through which water is drawninto the watering housing.

Seventh, since the power transmission shaft is coupled to the powertransmission unit and the watering housing cover, respectively,vibration can be minimized even though the height of the wateringhousing increases.

The effects of the present invention are not limited to the above; othereffects that are not described herein will be clearly understood by thepersons skilled in the art from the following claims.

While this invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may bemade therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims. The preferred embodimentsshould be considered in descriptive sense only and not for purposes oflimitation. Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined not by thedetailed description of the invention but by the appended claims, andall differences within the scope will be construed as being included inthe present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A humidification and air cleaning apparatuscomprising: a water tank to store water; a watering housing rotatablydisposed in the water tank to spray water stored in the water tank; anda pump groove protruding inside the watering housing to draw water ofthe water tank to an upper side of the watering housing.
 2. Thehumidification and air cleaning apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising: a watering motor to generate a torque; and a powertransmission shaft to provide the torque of the watering motor to thewatering housing, wherein the power transmission shaft is disposedinside the watering housing.
 3. The humidification and air cleaningapparatus of claim 1, wherein the pump groove longitudinally extends inupward and downward directions.
 4. The humidification and air cleaningapparatus of claim 1, wherein the pump groove is formed in a form ofdotted line or dot.
 5. The humidification and air cleaning apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the pump groove is disposed in plurality, and isradially disposed with respect to a rotational axis of the wateringhousing.
 6. The humidification and air cleaning apparatus of claim 1,wherein the watering housing has a nozzle to spay water, and the pumpgroove is located lower than the nozzle.
 7. The humidification and aircleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the watering housing has a lowerend thereof forming a watering inlet that is spaced apart from an innerundersurface of the water tank by a certain gap, and water of the watertank is drawn through the watering inlet.
 8. The humidification and aircleaning apparatus of claim 7, wherein the pump groove formed in thewatering housing has a total surface area ranging from about 77% toabout 129.5% with respect to an area of the watering inlet.
 9. Thehumidification and air cleaning apparatus of claim 7, wherein the pumpgroove longitudinally extends in a vertical direction, and has avertical length ranging from about 30% to about 100% of a height of thewatering housing.
 10. The humidification and air cleaning apparatus ofclaim 7, wherein the watering housing has a housing space formedtherein, and an area of the watering inlet ranges from about 19.5% toabout 32.7% with respect to a horizontal maximum area of the housingspace.
 11. The humidification and air cleaning apparatus of claim 7,wherein the pump groove is formed to incline at an angle of at leastthree degrees or more with respect to a rotational axis of the wateringhousing.
 12. The humidification and air cleaning apparatus of claim 11,wherein the pump groove inclines toward the outside of the water tank.13. The humidification and air cleaning apparatus of claim 1, whereinwhen the watering housing rotates at a speed equal to or larger than apredetermined rotation speed, the watering housing sprays water.
 14. Thehumidification and air cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the nozzlecomprises: a first nozzle spraying water when the watering housingrotates at a speed equal to or larger than a predetermined firstrotation speed; and a second nozzle spraying water when the wateringhousing rotates at a speed equal to or larger than a predeterminedsecond rotation speed faster than a predetermined first rotation speed,and the second nozzle is located higher than the first nozzle.
 15. Thehumidification and air cleaning apparatus of claim 1, further comprisinga watering motor to generate a torque, wherein the watering housingcomprises: a first watering housing spaced from an undersurface of aninner side of the water tank by a suction gap; a second watering housingassembled with an upper end of the first watering housing; a wateringhousing cover coupled with an upper end of the second watering housingto cover an upper surface of the second watering housing; a powertransmission unit disposed in at least one of the first wateringhousing, the second watering housing and the watering housing cover toreceive a torque from the watering motor; and a nozzle disposed in atleast one of the first watering housing, the second watering housing andwatering housing cover to spray water, wherein the pump groove isdisposed in at least one of the first watering housing and the secondwatering housing.
 16. The humidification and air cleaning apparatus ofclaim 15, wherein the pump groove is disposed in the first wateringhousing, and the nozzle is located higher than the pump groove.
 17. Thehumidification and air cleaning apparatus of claim 15, furthercomprising a power transmission shaft coupled to the power transmissionunit, wherein the power transmission shaft is disposed inside thewatering housing, and the watering motor provides a torque to the powertransmission shaft.
 18. The humidification and air cleaning apparatus ofclaim 17, wherein the power transmission shaft has an upper end thereofcoupled to the watering housing cover, and the watering housing coverfurther comprises a shaft fixing part to which the power transmissionshaft is fixed.
 19. The humidification and air cleaning apparatus ofclaim 15, further comprising a water curtain inhibiting rib disposedinside the second watering housing to interfere with the water.
 20. Thehumidification and air cleaning apparatus of claim 19, wherein the watercurtain inhibiting rib longitudinally extends in upward and downwarddirections.
 21. The humidification and air cleaning apparatus of claim19, wherein the water curtain inhibiting rib is connected to the powertransmission unit.
 22. The humidification and air cleaning apparatus ofclaim 15, wherein the nozzle comprises: a first nozzle spraying waterwhen the watering housing rotates at a speed equal to or larger than apredetermined first rotation speed; and a second nozzle spraying waterwhen the watering housing rotates at a speed equal to or larger than apredetermined second rotation speed faster than a predetermined firstrotation speed, and at least one of the first nozzle and the secondnozzle is disposed in the second watering housing.